Sick Knits for Crabby Moms

September 5, 2006

Dear Kay,
Honey, I don’t know what we’ve all got down here, but I can’t really recommend your coming to visit until we get the Bubonic Plague Removal Squad in here. What houseful of randomly sick individuals–ever since last Wednesday, lurching through the weekend, it’s been all the time with the barfing, the coughing, the heating up and the chilling, the aching, the complaining. Oy! Get me outta here!
I’m ashamed to say that I managed to get through Labor Day without a single somber thought about the labors of whoever it is we’re supposed to be remembering. Happy Labor Day? Good Labor Day to ye? I dunno. All I know is that when I was in a labor union myself–District 65 of the United Auto Workers, no less, which was a union for the publishing industry–there was no such thing as merit pay, and we made the same crummy salaries as everybody else. I did, however, once get to sing the ILGWU song, non-ironically, at an International Ladies Garment Worker Union event. “Look for the union label, when you are buying a coat, dress, or blouse . . .”
Ah, but enough of the On the Waterfront nostalgia–those days are but a tender memory. When I haven’t been at the superb Dr. Allen’s office getting antibiotic shots in my rear area, or chasing children around the house with barfy buckets, I have been chugging my way through Eunny’s Print o’ the Wave thingie. It’s not really a shawl, or a scarf, or an antimacassar. It just is.
There are 34 repeats of the waves, and I’ve got 7 to go. Dying to move on to the grafting and edging portion of this little project. Thinking that a floatier yarn would be divine in this, though I’m kind of liking the shimmery mercerized cotton deal.
I know we could debate this endlessly, but I do believe that tennis is the finest of sports to watch while knitting. You can stop at the spicy bits, then cruise through those mid-set doldrums. I watched every moment of Andre Agassi’s final three matches, in a bleary way. What a guy! What an achy back he’s going to have!
I’ve got some tasty Mason-Dixon Mailbag mail to share with you, which will have to wait a day, alas.
Love,
Ann

33 Comments

Wow. Just…wow, to the knitting and the plague ravaging your household. Both are impressive.

Linda DH
September 5, 2006 at 10:13 am

YUCK – so sorry about the “Family Troubles” – won’t say anymore so that the universe doesn’t spread them out here to my clan…I’ve probably said too much already.
Regarding floaty yarn – I’m dreaming of a little KSH on that Wave Wonder…but you won’t see me trying that until I get a better handle on keeping up with the pattern. I hate frogging the haze.
Somehow here seems the place…I’m just so sad about the Crocodile Man…my 12 year old son and hubby are in mourning and have been dazed all weekend…

Sorry to hear to plague hit ya’ll so hard. That sucks. On the up side ‘the wave’ is looking pretty tasty!

Barbara A.M.
September 5, 2006 at 10:17 am

So sorry to hear your last weekend of summer was such a depressing mess of illness. I just adore your Print o’the Wave. You may be inspiring me to try one, although I am currently on my first lace project…a scarf from Knitty, that is lovely if I do say so myself. This is my first comment on your blog, so I must add that I loved your book. I’ve made countless washcloths, two log cabin pillows and one pillow similar to your seat covers for the porch chairs. Love them all! Thanks.

While you were sick this weekend, I was digging through the Angel Hair Yarn Co in Green Hills, accompanied by my 17 yr old niece, my 14 yr old niece and my 5 yr old daughter.
A good time was had by all and [too] much money was spent and the Husband said, as he always does, “Well, I think we have enough yarn for a while now.”
Your name was invoked, as was Angela’s. Loved the yarn store. Desperately desire their swifty thing. It was purdy.
Feel well.

Sorry to hear about the barfing. I sent my 2 off to school today… we’ll see how long before we get barfy, licey or whatever it’ll be. But now I get to go shopping, and I’m checking out a dishcloth cotton store that might just be opening up!

Ooooh, bummer about the barfing. The kids started school two weeks ago, and so far all we have is the coughing and the noses running.
The thing-that-just-is, is gorgeous. Just the thing to wrap up in when you feel puny.

I’m not sure which is more impressive: The non-scarf, non-shawl, non-antimacassar Print o’ the Wave or the Plague. Probably the PofW…I remember reading an article about a woman in Southern California who contracted the plague (http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/18/D8H2OUH87.html). I hope ya’ll are all on the mend soon.

…our wages going/to feed the kids/and run the house./We work hard,/but who’s complaining (me!)?/words words words words,/ we’re paying our way!/So, always look for/the union label;/it says were able/to make it in the USA!
Love how that scans, not.
You took me way back to a wasted childhood in front of the teevee, Ann. Want the lyrics to “I’m Just a Bill?”

Oh – beautiful Eunny knits thingie. Just beautiful! Almost makes me want to knit one. And then I start thinking about how endless those beautiful rows would be to knit and I snap right out of it. Much better to just admire yours.
Hope you all are feeling better soon!

We had the bubonic plague this past weekend, too – and that is exactly how I referred to it. I was foolish enough to kiss Moxie’s hot little forehead and was rewarded by being woken at 2 a.m. by my own wretching. Next time I will just get out the red caution tape and rope off the bedroom until he’s feeling better. No more Mother Theresa here. I have learned that no good deed goes unpunished!
The wave thingy looks great. I think you were smart to avoid the US 3 needles.
xox,

Ohhh pretty……. it looks so good on the chair – and knitting during the Plague dedication that is all I can say.
I have been baby bibbing and now am on burp cloths in matching color — I must be done by Sat. for a shower for twins!! I’m thinking I will make it despite all the festivities for our FD 125th Anniversary coming up interferring with my knitting.
Hope everyone is on the mend now.

Hope the plague goes away soon! Beautiful work on the shawl/scarf/whatchamacallit.

CarolynD
September 5, 2006 at 7:41 pm

Can’t trust the little ones around yarn if they are still barfing, otherwise my grandma would get out the crochet hooks to give us something to do. Oh, and my favorite ‘words of wisdom’ for barfy kids, Don’t let them have red Kool Aid, it stains when it hits the carpet. Someone had the bright idea of putting carpet into the bathroom in an apartment that I lived in. Highly impractical.

I love the colorway you chose for Eunny’s Wave. Seems to be a popular pattern, think I’ll give it a shot.
Hope you and your family are on the mend!

Sue
September 6, 2006 at 12:10 am

As one non-sportsman to anohter, I too spent my knitting hours with Andre, moved to tears myself to see the fellow they had once booed in his earlier days, who had been blown off as just some hot dogger who would never amount to more than a flash in the pan….now the revered senior member. It was an incredible way to exit Andre…

Your not-shawl is lovely, the color is so in concert with the pattern. Also loving the title of your post.
I’ve been threatening to open the Grouchy Mom Cafe for years, wherein I yell at the customers, a glass of juice gets spilled dramatically once per meal and there’s a kid sitting at the end of the counter all day everyday , just belching. Stop on by when you’re feeling better!